Esquire Financing and Philippine Franchise Asia see fast growing future of SMEs

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According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), franchising currently represents 18 million jobs and $2.1 trillion worth of economic activity in the U.S. 

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines leads in terms of franchise concept development. Last year, more than 124,000 franchisees offered the products and services of over 1,100 franchisors in the country. The industry generated more than a million jobs while recording a total of $9.45 billion output—equal to five percent of the country’s total gross domestic product (GDP).

ESQUIRE Financing Inc.'s CEO Rajan Uttamchandani (Center) with staff at the inauguration of the new CAPITALIFE Business Center in Makati. 

PFA Chairman Lim said that the recent growth can be attributed to the entry of new players from micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the continued rise of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, and the introduction of indigenous and food concepts.

ESQUIRE Financing Inc.'s CEO Rajan Uttamchandani at the Philippine Small and Medium Enterprise Expo 2012

ESQUIRE Financing Inc. also recognizes the potential in funding the development of emerging enterprises, especially now when there is positive economic growth in the country. “MSMEs are the pillars of growth of the Philippine economy. They will catapult economic production into greater numbers through job development,” ESQUIRE President/CEO Rajan Uttamchandani stated.

Learn more about how EFI can help you grow your SME with its fast and efficient financial solutions by visiting http://esquire.com.ph/, or contact david@esquire.com.ph or call 0917-5135573. 

    

Beyonce Debuts 'I was Here' Video for World Humanitarian Day

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DO SOMETHING GOOD, SOMEWHERE  

FOR SOMEONE ELSE

RnB superstar Beyonce has released her video for the song “I was Here” as part of her World Humanitarian Day campaign.

Free Carinderia Makeover with SM Hypermarket Master Chefs

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Do you have a food business? Do you have a Carinderia ? Here’s your chance to give your business a Makeover with SM Hypermarket MASTER CHEFS free CARINDERIA MAKEOVER!

Entrepreneurs who run a carinderia, catering or small restaurant business can own a brand new kitchen and dining area furnished by SM Hypermarket with SM Master Chefs Free Carinderia Makeover – one of the three components of this year’s run.

Aside from the Free Makeover for food business owners, SM Master Chefs 2012 is made more exciting with back-to-back Cooking Demos of notable chefs and a Master Recipe contest for those who love to eat, cook and experiment with their food.

Sustaining food business operations

Food service business is close to the heart of SM Hypermarket. In fact, an entire section of the store is solely dedicated to products and services essential in running a food business. Owners of food businesses can buy their ingredients in big packs or bulk and other essentials for their operations – plates, cups, utensils, tables and chairs, pots and pans and even chef’s uniforms at SM Hypermarket’s Food Service Center. The Center delivers and takes orders via a phone call.

And as a tribute to food service owners, SM Hypermarket is giving away a free makeover of their kitchen and dining area to five lucky and deserving food business operators in order to help them sustain their operations. A minimum P500 worth of groceries inclusive of two sponsor brands or a fully stamped loyalty card give food business owners a chance to win a makeover.

Here's how to join: 

Secure first a registration form at the Customer Service Counters at any SM Hypermarket Branches and submit at least 3 clear printed photos of your carinderia business.

Submit the form and the fully stamped loyalty card or a single receipt purchase worth P500 including at least 2 sponsor items during the following schedules

Draw Date: August 31 (Submission Period: Aug 16 – 26)

Draw Date: September 21 (Submission Period: Aug 27 – Sept 16)

Draw Date: October 5 (Submission Period: Sept 17 – 30)

Draw Date: October 19 (Submission Period: Oct 1 – 14)

Draw Date: November 9 (Submission Period: Oct 15 – 31)

Cooking marathon with the “master chefs”

Last year’s SM Master Chef’s cooking marathon was a big hit to SM Hypermarket shoppers, that’s why it brings it back this year with new recipes prepared by the respective master chefs of the different master brands.

This year’s run is sponsored by master brands Bounty Fresh, CDO, Nestle, Purefoods, Magnolia and Unilever Food Solutions Knorr. Each will have a featured chef who will go around the 34 branches of SM Hypermarket every week in three months for cooking demonstrations and a delectable shopping experience open to all shoppers for free.

Whip up your own master recipe and be hailed as Master Chef!

Quality ingredients at affordable prices make a good recipe and SM Hypermarket brings you these so you and your family may enjoy good food. And when you buy your ingredients at SM Hypermarket and whip up a great tasting, unique and reasonably priced recipe using any of our master brands, you will get the chance to win in SM Master Chefs recipe contest.

Check the following schedule:

Just bring your finished product to any SM Hypermarket store on judging day and you could be hailed one of the thirty three SM Master Chefs 2012.

A Newly Appointed Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as New Chief Justice

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President Benigno Aquino III has appointed Associate Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as the 24th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and first woman to hold the highest position in the judiciary.

Sereno will replace Renato Corona, who was impeached and convicted by the Senate last May 29 for betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution because of misdeclared cash assets.

"The President believes that after the assessment and evaluation, Justice Sereno is the candidate who is most able to institute reforms in the judiciary. That is the only consideration that the President had in appointing the next chief justice,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters, adding the President also interviewed other candidates the past two days.

At the Supreme Court, Sereno promised to stay true to her oath "until the end of my term." She also thanked President Aquino for giving her the chance to lead the judiciary in the next 18 years.

"First of all, I give all the Glory to God. To the President, I thank you very much," she said.

She also thanked the media for "partnering with us in the judiciary" as she vows to give more lengthy statements in the next days.

Sereno will serve a term that will span four Presidents including Aquino because she will reach the mandatory retirement age of 70 on July 2, 2030.

Barring impeachment, resignation or death, Sereno may go down in Philippine history as the second longest serving Chief Justice next to Cayetano Arellano, the country’s first top magistrate.

Arellano was at the helm for almost 19 years from June 1, 1901 to April 1, 1920.

Before her appointment as associate justice in August 2010, Sereno was executive director of the policy think-tank of the Asian Institute of Management in 2009; professor of law at the University of the Philippines for almost 20 years, and consultant for judicial reform of the United Nations Development Program, the World Bank, and the United States Agency for International Development.

She handled various international trade and investment law disputes in the World Trade Organization in Geneva, International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington D.C., and in International Chamber of Commerce's International Court of Arbitration in Singapore and in Paris, employing bilateral dispute resolution mechanisms.

She was co-counsel for the Philippine government in its cases involving the bidding and construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.

During the public interviews last month, Sereno mentioned God several times as bedrock of her work ethic as she summed up her judicial philosophy in three words: vision, courage, accountability. She said her leadership will be marked by willingness to create generation of judges who will commit themselves to life of uprightness. Sereno, a mother of two, said her life has been fruitful and exciting because of God.

"I rely completely on God. I cry out to him for strength, to be a public servant after God's own heart. It all depends on God whom I see from an eternal perspective," she told the screening body Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on July 27.

First Laguna Blogging Summit (#1LaBS) - September 27-28

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The 1st and the biggest Laguna Blogging Summit, 1LaBS (has been re-scheduled and) will be on September 27-28, 2012 at the Provincial Cultural Center at Santa Cruz, Laguna from 8:00am to 5:00pm and supported by the Laguna Provincial Government under Governor Jeorge "ER" Ejercito, Commission on Election (COMELEC), ALAM (Alab ng mamamahayag) and Philippine Information Agency 4-A(PIA) with Kliping Times, Creative Voices, Phil IT and When In Manila as media partners.

#1LaBS is a free event and will present famous speakers from the Philippines and abroad with different topics for 20 minutes speaking slot for each. Topics will highlights the importance of Social Media on what they do whether it's about Finance, Environment, Search Engine Optimization, Advocacy, Tourism, Marketing, Public Relations and Education.

Speakers:

1. Noemi Lardizabal Dado

2. Dean Jorge Bocobo

3. Tony Ahn

4. Sonnie Santos

5. Chuckie Dreyfus

6. Randell Tiongson

7. Atty. Toto Causing

8. Elizabeth Angsioco

9. Jayvee Fernandez

10. Jinkee Umali

11. Noel De Guia

12. Enzo Luna

13. Senator Richard Gordon

14. Jonel Uy

15. Azrael Colladilla

16. Janette Toral

17. James Jimenez

18. Wenchie Flores Sabban

19. Alvin Cloyd Dakis

20. Fitz Villafuerte

21. Jaypee David

22. Acee Vitangcol

23. Lloyd Luna

24. Pocholo De Leon Gonzales

25. Juned Sonido

For the past years, events like this has become a highly-anticipated interaction venue where famous and upcoming Pinoy bloggers give informative talks. More than 300 bloggers from all over the country make time to attend events like this and with 25 municipalities and 5 cities from the province of LAGUNA, we're expecting more.

According to COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez "A historical event." The organizers seeks to promote Laguna in this event and for the different communities to understand the advantages of Social Media.

Pinoy Bloggers, see you all in Laguna on September 27 and 28, 2012!